Lagos prepares for 2024 torrential rains as LASEMA technical working committee mulls solution

Source: The Guardian

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Stakeholders' Technical Working Committee on Flood Free Lagos has met to brainstorm on

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Stakeholders' Technical Working Committee on Flood Free Lagos has met to brainstorm on ways and means to mitigate flooding in the state, following prediction of torrential rainfall by NIMET, this year.

The Technical Working Committee comprises of representatives from the LASEMA, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Red Cross of Nigeria, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and Ministry of the Environment amongst others, met in the conference room of LASEMA Command and Control Centre.

According to the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, nexus of the stakeholders forum, was to strategize on ways to control flooding as Lagos topography makes the state prone to perennial flash floods.

Stressing that aside from de-silting drainages, carting away of debris and clearing of canals, to prevent flooding, the he stated that the focal point of the forum was to strategize on ways of preventing over lapping of functions during emergencies.

Oke-Osanyintolu appealed to Lagos residents to cooperate with emergency responders during rescue operations to reduce fatalities and prevent loss of properties in the case of eventualities of disasters.

Other stakeholders in agreement to the Permanent Secretary's assertion corroborated the need for synergy among emergency responders to reduce unnecessary depletion of the state government's resources in the management of emergencies and disasters through cooperation.

The PS LASEMA revealed that the Technical Working Committee will hold a Workshop 3rd of next month, with public advocacy slated for June 13th, to educate residents on disaster mitigation.